Ventilated straw hat and method of manufacturing the same



Sept. 21, 1937. o. WIEDEMAN VENTILATED STRAW HAT AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME Filed June 7, 1937 INVENTOR 05cm WIEDEMAN c M ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 21, 1937 ATEN QFFME VENTILATED STRAW HAT AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME Oscar Wiedeman, Fall River, Mass.

Application June 7, 1937, Serial No. 146,715

12 Claims.

The present invention relates to the manufacture of straw hats, and particularly straw hats provided with apertures to permit the circulation of air therethrough.

It has long been recognized in the art that provision for ventilation in hats is highly desirable for the comfort of the wearer, particularly during the summer months. Thus it has been common to provide felt hats with small apertures punched in the crown for this purpose, as may easily be done in the case of felt, which presents a smooth even texture readily adapted to piercing without marring the appearance of the hat. In the case of straw hats, however, and particularly hats made of braided straw of the type known as sennit braid, commonly used in the manufacture of mens hats, the matter of providing ventilation apertures has presented serious problems.

Such braid, as is well known, is provided to the hat manufacturer in relatively narrow strips composed of a plurality of short lengths of flat straw, interwoven to present a smooth edge and a jagged edge. The hat is composed of successive convolutions of this braid, generally sewed together with the jagged edge lapped over the smooth edge of the next convolution. The surface thus produced is necessarily somewhat uneven, due both to the nature of the braid and to the overlap, and also varies in texture. Such braid is very brittle and apt to splinter, leaving ragged unsightly edges, particularly if pierced at inappropriate places. Furthermore, removal of portions of the braid at random tends to weaken it and may cause the ,hat to break.

In view of these difficulties, it has been proposed to provide air vents in such hats by including therein one or more convolutions of openweave braid. This has not proved practical, however, both because such braid is not a standard commercial article and ordinarily can be obtained only by re-braiding sennit braid and also because the joining of different types. of braid produces an unsightly appearing hat.

An object of the present invention is to provide a method whereby a sennit braid straw hat having suitable perforations may be readily produced, the perforations so positioned that the braid structure is not materially weakened. A further object of the invention is to provide a sennit braid straw hat with perforations therethrough, the perforations having relatively smooth unsplintered edges. Another object is to provide a straw hat composed of sennit braid of uniform weave having regularly spaced relatively smooth-edged air vents, harmonizing with the braid design of the hat surface and enhancing the ornamental appearance of the hat.

Other objects of the invention will sufficiently appear from the following description and from the drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a straw hat made of sennit braid showing perforations therethrough in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a section of a strip of unperforated sennit braid straw from which the hat is made;

Fig. 3 is a detail of the manner in which the individual short lengths of straw forming the braid are cut or notched, according to my invention;

Fig. 4 is a view of overlapping strips of sennit braid straw stitched inthe usual manner;

Fig. 5 shows a modification of my invention in which the triangular apertures are inverted;

Fig. 6 is a side view of a machine adapted to the practice of the method. I

Sennit braid, a short section of which is shown in Fig. 2 is commonly made by braiding together a plurality of short lengths of straw, following a regular predetermined pattern. In Fig. 2 the strip of braid, referred to generally as 2, is known as 5-end braid in that five short lengths of straw are required to form a minimum amount of braid of the required width. If the braid were of four ends or six ends the resulting strip would be narrower or wider as the case may be, but the pattern effect would be much the same.

Each individual length of straw that is present in the strip 2 is in the form of the lengths 6 and 8 shown in detail in Fig. 3, with the exception that when initially braided they are not notched. Thus in Fig. 2 lengths 6 and 8 arcindicated as being interwoven with a pluralityof other lengths l6, l2 and Hi, all of which, however, are identical. By interweaving these lengths in the manner shown a strip of braided straw is produced in which one edge is smooth as at It and the other edge presents a plurality of serrations l8. The strip is quite flexible and may be readily formed into a hat, such as IE3, by winding the flat strip in a spiral causing each convolution to overlap the previous convolution Where it is retained by suitable stitching shown at 25 in Fig. 1. The jagged edge of the strip overlies the smooth edge of the next convolution and by this construction, which presents a generally irregular appearance to the eye, the spiral effect is but slightly apparent in the finished article and the surface of the hat appears to be an integrated whole. Fig. 4 illustrates the manner in which overlapping strips of braid blend together.

However, since the crown of the hat as shown in Fig. 1 is actually formed of a spiral strip or strips of braided straw, it is obvious that any perforations that may be made in the crown should follow some predetermined pattern in relation to the spiral strip, so that the result may be pleasing to the eye and not damaging structurally.

I have found that in perforating sennit braid the perforations must be located in a particular predetermined location in the strip if the finished product is to be considered satisfactory. As can be seen from an inspection of Fig. 2 the general appearance of the unperforated strip gives the effect of a plurality of diamonds nested together, the top row of diamonds 20 forming the serrations, the intermediate rows of diamonds 22 and 24 forming the body of the strip and the bottom areas 26, which, because of the construction, are not diamond shaped, abutting to form the smooth edge IS.

The diamonds of the upper row 20 are formed by overlapping lengths of straw, the ends of which have been doubled downwardly as at 21 in Figs. 2 and 3 and tucked under adjacent interlacings, resulting in the appearance shown. The intermediate rows of diamonds 22 and 24 are formed by crossing pairs of straws arranged according to the pattern of the braid. If the unit braid were composed of a greater or less number of ends or lengths of straw, the number of intermediate rows of diamonds would be correspondingly increased or decreased. However, the fiveend braid permits of sufficient overlapping to produce a satisfactory hat and yet is narrow enough to provide the desired regidity.

The nature of the overlapping of strips of 5- end braid can be seen from an inspection of Fig. 4, in which the strip 2 overlaps the adjacent strip 28 to such an extent that diamond rows 20, 22 and 24 are all that are visible of the underlying strip 28. Similarly in the assembled hat the convolution of braid that is partially covered by strip 28 will have exposed diamond rows 20, 22 and 24 and this condition will prevail throughout the entire construction. If it is desired to perforate the hat using a pattern bearing a definite relation to the strip it is obvious that the perforations must be made through the exposed diamonds of rows 20, 22 or 24. If the diamonds of row 20 are perforated the ends of the short lengths of straw composing the strip, particularly the downwardly doubled ends 21, would be freed or broken so that unsightly ends of straw would arise on the surface of the hat. I have found, however, that by perforating the strip in selected diamonds of row 24 as at 29 in Fig. 4, a desirable result may be obtained. The perforations are so located and of such size that the surface remains smooth and the structure of the braid is not weakened to a material extent.

Referring to Fig. 4 it will be noted that in forming the perforations 29 I have cut away part of the material of a pair of overlapping straws in row 24 but the cutting or notching is not so exten sive that either straw is severed. This is essential if the crown is to retain sufiicient strength. It will also be noted that the opening is in the form of a triangle, the apex of which is immedi ately below the apex of an adjacent serration. One side of the triangular opening, as at 3B, is parallel to the edge of the adjacent straw 32 while the other side 34 of the triangular opening is parallel to the edge of the adjacent straw 36. Thus the only straws that are cut or notched at any one aperture are a pair of overlapping or crossing straws in row 24.

A pair of crossing straws which have been notched to form an aperture 29 and are illustrative of all the notched short lengths of braided straw in the strip are shown in Fig. 3. The lengths 5 and 8 have body portions 38 and 39 and end portions 27 already referred to. The body portions are suitably interwoven with other similar lengths of straw and obviously form a plurality of crossings. One such crossing is at 42 in Fig. 3 which crossing constitutes one of the diamond effects apparent in row 24. In forming the perforation 29 it is apparent from Fig. 3 that the body portion 39 of length 8 is notched as at 44 and the body portion 38 of length 6 is notched in complementary fashion as at 46 and in this way an opening is formed.

It will be observed that the straws 6 and 8 are only partially cut so that they retain adequate strength to fulfill their functions in the braid. Thus by locating my perforations in the diamond formations immediately below the apexes of selected serrations, I provide apertures which give adequate ventilation and at the same time do not affect the structure. In addition to these advantages, it is apparent that the shape of the aperture corresponds along two sides with the diamond formations and thus the continuity of the basic pattern is not destroyed.

While in my preferred form I have elected to place each perforation at the upper part of a diamond in row 24 immediately below an apex of a serration. it is apparent that the openings could be made at the lower part of the diamonds in row 22 with substantially the same result. Such a construction is shown in Fig. 5 in which the opening is indicated at 48. In this case the opening 48 has its apex at the bottom of the diamond and is positioned immediately below the valley between adjacent serrations. However, since only two straws cross to form each diamond in row 22, the placing of a perforation in row 22 would necessitate merely the notching of a pair of crossing straws, as was the case when the aperture was made in the diamond of row 24.

These notches, similar to those in Fig. 3, extend but part way across the straws in question and hence the straws will not be unduly weakened.

In carrying out my invention, I find it convenient to use a punching mechanism 50 similar to that shown in Fig. 6. The cutter or punch 52 is adapted to be positioned over any portion of the crown of the hat. The holes that I contemplate punching in the crown will follow a spiral course as shown in Fig. 1, each hole being preferably in row 24 immediately below the apex of a serration which acts as a ready guide in properly locating the punch. With the hat suitably positioned as in Fig. 6 the punch is operated to produce a single hole as at 54 in Fig. 1. The punch is then removed, the hat shifted to a second position at which the punch will be aligned over another diamond in row 24 and below an apex of a serration. The punch is then again operated to form hole 54'. This operation is repeated as often as necessary to give the desired degree of ventilation. It is contemplated that the apertures be spaced evenly along the strip in which they appear so that there may be uniformity in appearance. In the illustration shown in Fig. 1 it has been considered sufficient to perforate the crown through two convolutions of the braided strip but the number of perforations may be made greater or less if preferred.

The cutter must be of such shape that it closely matches the angularity of the diamond formations of the braid as indicated and it must be able to cut the straw cleanly.

While in Fig. 1 I have shown the ventilation apertures formed in the top of the crown, it will be apparent that they may also be formed in similar fashion in the sides of the crown if desired. It will also be apparent that the apertures may be formed in other patterns than that illustrated in Fig. 1, and that while the triangular form of aperture is preferred, variations in such shape may be made while still accomplishing, though less advantageously, objects of my invention.

While I have shown preferred forms and methods of practicing my invention, I do not intend to be limited thereby but only by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A straw hat comprising overlapping strips of braided straw, each strip including a plurality of straws interlaced to form a serrated edge along one side of said strip, certain selected pairs of said straws being partially cut away at overlying points to form a plurality of holes through said strip.

2. A straw hat comprising a strip of straws, said strip being made of a plurality of straws braided together to form serrations along one longitudinal edge of said strip, certain pairs of crossed straws being cut away in part at the point of crossing to form an opening through said strip, each cut away area being located below the apex of a selected serration.

3. A ventilated straw hat having a brim, and a perforated crown, said crown comprising a strip of braided straw having a serrated edge, said strip formed spirally with each convolution partially overlapping the adjacent convolution, certain selected straws crossing interiorly of said strip being cut away to form a plurality of holes therethrough, each of said holes being in line with an apex of a selected serration.

4. A ventilated straw hat including a brim and a crown, said crown comprising a strip of braided straw arranged in a spiral, certain of the straws in said strip being notched and in register to form perforations through said strip, each notch having at least one straight edge, substantially parallel to adjacent straws.

5. In a straw hat, a strip of braided straw in t which certain selected pairs of straws crossing interiorly of said strip have been complementarily notched to form an opening through said strip, other straws other than said selected pair, bordering said opening with uncut edges.

6. A ventilated straw hat comprising a strip of braided straw spirally arranged to form a crown having a plurality of holes therethrough arranged in a similar spiral pattern, each hole formed by notching the body of not more than two crossing straws, said holes being intermediate the width of said strip.

'7. A straw hat comprising a suitably formed strip of braided straw, said strip being comprised of a plurality of short lengths of straw interlaced to form at least one serrated longitudinal edge, said serrated edge formed by the overlapped and doubled ends of said lengths, some of said lengths having notches therein, said strip containing a plurality of perforations, each perforation formed by the registration of notches in certain selected lengths at a point of crossing, said point of crossing being immediately below the apex of a serration.

8. A hat comprised of interlaced straws, certain pairs of said straws being notched but not severed at corresponding points to provide a substantial opening therethrough while still maintaining operative strength.

9. A straw hat comprising a strip of braided straw, said strip comprising a plurality of short lengths of straw suitably interlaced, each length having a body portion and end portions, certain selected crossing pairs of body portions being notched in registration at the point of crossing to form an opening through said strip, the body portions of lengths immediately adjacent said selected pair being uncut along their bordering edges.

10. The method of making a ventilated straw hat which comprises the steps of forming a strip of braided straw having a serrated edge into overlapping spiral form, and thereafter partially severing selected pairs of straws crossing interiorly of said strip.

11. The method of making a perforated straw hat, comprising the steps of first forming the hat from a strip of braided straw having a serrated edge, then positioning a punch, of less than half the area formed by crossing straws, at a point immediately below the apex of a serration, and operating said punch whereby the punched straws are only partially severed.

12. The method of perforating a straw hat comprising a strip of braided straw, said strip including a plurality of short lengths, each length having a body portion and end portions, comprising the steps of positioning a punch at a definite position with relation to the edge of said strip, operating said punch to notch a selected pair of crossing body portions, moving said punch to another but similar position with relation to the edge ofv said strip and thereafter operating said punch to notch a second selected pair of crossing body portions.

OSCAR WIEDEMAN. 

